Greenhouse gases released from large-scale livestock production contribute to thedepletion of the ozone layer (ozonosphere). These are mainly methane andnitrous oxide, which are produced by livestock and released fromnatural fertilisers.
Methane has the highest ozone depletion (O3)capacity. Although methane bonds with chloride to create hydrochloricacid at lower levels of the atmosphere and, under specific conditions(polar night), this form of chloride can be released back to theatmosphere and deplete the ozonosphere.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is another compound which can deplete the ozone layer. It is forded during microbiological processes (mainly nitrification) in soil (65-70% of global N2Oemissions). It is commonly believed that the main source of nitrousoxide emissions to the atmosphere are wetland soils andover-fertilisation with nitrate-nitrogen.
Althoughmethane contributes to ozone depletion in the stratosphere(ozonosphere), it also protects ozone in lower atmosphere levels(troposphere). However, ozone protects the biosphere from ultravioletradiation if it is contained in the upper atmosphere, and is harmful forliving organisms if it is present in tropospheric air.